Chapter 3 - TEMPORARY
Laura Bennett was nineteen when Ryan was born.
Diane was twenty-four.
Their parents were strict, embarrassed, and obsessed with appearances.
Laura was not married.
Ryan’s biological father, Matthew Cole, disappeared before the birth.
At seven weeks postpartum, Laura deteriorated.
No sleep.
Panic.
Confusion.
Episodes of leaving the house without shoes.
Fear that someone would take the baby.
Today, doctors might have described severe postpartum depression with possible psychotic features.
In 1991, the family called it:
unstable.
Diane stepped in.
Thomas, then her fiancé, helped.
Laura signed a temporary guardianship authorization.
Six months.
Diane showed Ryan a photocopy.
His mother’s signature was there.
LAURA BENNETT.
Ryan touched the name with one finger.
“She gave me to you?”
“Temporarily.”
Ryan looked up sharply.
Diane’s mouth tightened.
“She needed treatment.”
“What happened after six months?”
Diane said:
“She wasn’t ready.”
“How do you know?”
“She told us.”
“Show me.”
Diane did not move.
Ryan understood.
“You don’t have that.”
“She was still sick.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
Diane snapped:
“You weren’t there!”
Ryan stood.
“No. I was an infant.”
Diane’s face broke for a second.
Then anger came back.
“You think I stole you because you found one photograph?”
Ryan looked at Lily.
Then at the red mark on her arm.
“No.”
He pointed to his daughter.
May you like
“I think you hurt a two-year-old because you were terrified I’d ask questions.”
That landed harder.
